EXHIBIT 3.1

D
		The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
PC		William Francis Galvin
		Secretary of the Commonwealth
		One Ashburton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02108-1512

Articles of Amendment
(General Laws Chapter 156D, Section 10.06; 950 CMR 113.34)

FORM MUST BE TYPED

FORM MUST BE TYPED

(1) Exact name of corporation: Cognex Corporation                                                                                                                    

(2) Registered office address: One Vision Drive, Natick, Massachusetts 01760-2059                                                                
                                                (number, street, city or town, state, zip code)

(3) These articles of amendment affect article(s): Articles 3 and 4.                                                                                             
                                                                                (specify the number(s) of article(s) being amended (I-VI))

(4) Date adopted: December 4, 2008
                             (month, day, year)

(5) Approved by:

     (check appropriate box)

	o		the incorporators.
	þ		the board of directors without shareholder approval and shareholder approval was not required.
	o		the board of directors and the shareholders in the manner required by law and the articles of organization.

(6) State the article number and the text of the amendment. Unless contained in the text of the amendment, state the provisions for implementing the exchange, reclassification or cancellation of issued shares.

Article 3 and 4. A vote of the board of directors establishing and designating a series of a class of stock and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof. See attached Exhibit A.

To change the number of shares and the par value, * if any, of any type, or to designate a class or series, of stock, or change a designation of class or series of stock, which the corporation is authorized to issue, complete the following:

Total authorized prior to amendment:

WITHOUT PAR VALUE

WITH PAR VALUE

TYPE

NUMBER OF SHARES

TYPE

NUMBER OF SHARES

PAR VALUE

Common

N/A

Common

140,000,000

$

0.002

Preferred

N/A

Preferred

400,000

*

$

0.01

*50,000 designated as Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock.

Total authorized after amendment:

WITHOUT PAR VALUE

WITH PAR VALUE

TYPE

NUMBER OF SHARES

TYPE

NUMBER OF SHARES

PAR VALUE

Common

N/A

Common

140,000,000

$

0.002

Preferred

N/A

Preferred

400,000

*

$

0.01

*50,000 designated as Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock.

(7)

The amendment shall be effective at the time and on the date approved by the Division, unless a later effective date not more than 90 days from the date and time of filing is specified:

Exhibit A

RESOLUTIONS OF DIRECTORS ESTABLISHING
SERIES E JUNIOR PARTICIPATING CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED STOCK

of

COGNEX CORPORATION

     Pursuant to Section 6.02 of Chapter 156D of the General Laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

     RESOLVED, that pursuant to authority conferred upon and vested in the Board of Directors by the Restated Articles of Organization, as amended (the “Articles”), of Cognex Corporation (the “Corporation”), the Board of Directors hereby establishes and designates a series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, and hereby fixes and determines the relative rights and preferences of the shares of such series, in addition to those set forth in the Articles, as follows:

     Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock” (the “Series E Preferred Stock”), and the number of shares initially constituting such series shall be 50,000.

     Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

     (A) (i) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of preferred stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series E Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of common stock and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series E Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provisions for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of common stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of common stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the common stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series E Preferred Stock. The multiple of cash and non-cash dividends declared on the common stock to which holders of the Series E Preferred Stock are entitled, which shall be 10,000 initially but which shall be adjusted from time to time as hereinafter provided, is hereinafter referred to as the “Dividend Multiple.” In the event the Corporation shall at any time after December 4, 2008 (the “Rights Declaration Date”) (i) declare or pay any dividend on common stock payable in shares of common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of common stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a

dividend in shares of common stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of common stock, then in each such case the Dividend Multiple thereafter applicable to the determination of the amount of dividends which holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive shall be the Dividend Multiple applicable immediately prior to such event multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of common stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

          (ii) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this paragraph (A), the Corporation shall, out of funds legally available for that purpose, declare a dividend or distribution on the Series E Preferred Stock as provided in this paragraph (A) immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the common stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of common stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the common stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series E Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

     (B) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series E Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series E Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix in accordance with applicable law a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than such number of days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof as may be allowed by applicable law.

     Section 3. Voting Rights. In addition to any other voting rights required by law, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

     (A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series E Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 10,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Corporation. The number of votes which a holder of a share of Series E Preferred Stock is entitled to cast, which shall initially be 10,000 but which may be adjusted from time to time as hereinafter provided, is hereinafter referred to as the “Vote Multiple.” In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on common stock payable in shares of common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of common stock (by

reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of common stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of common stock, then in each such case the Vote Multiple thereafter applicable to the determination of the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall be entitled shall be the Vote Multiple immediately prior to such event multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of common stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

     (B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of common stock and the holders of shares of any other capital stock of this Corporation having general voting rights, shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Corporation.

     (C) Except as otherwise required by applicable law or as set forth herein, holders of Series E Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of common stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

     Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

     (A) Whenever dividends or distributions payable on the Series E Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series E Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

          (i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock;

          (ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series E Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

          (iii) except as permitted in subsection 4(A)(iv) below, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock; or

          (iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series E Preferred Stock, or any shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of

the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

     (B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under subsection (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

     Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series E Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of preferred stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.

     Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (x) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, plus an amount equal to the greater of (1) $10,000.00 per share or (2) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 10,000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of common stock, or (y) to the holders of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series E Preferred Stock and all other such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on common stock payable in shares of common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of common stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of common stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of common stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount per share to which holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (x) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of common stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

     Neither the consolidation of nor merging of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations, nor the sale or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 6.

     Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of common stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in

any such case the shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 10,000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of common stock is changed or exchanged, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, payable with respect to the Series E Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on common stock payable in shares of common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of common stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of common stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of common stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of common stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

     Section 8. Redemption. The shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the ability of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise deal in such shares to the extent otherwise permitted hereby and by law.

     Section 9. Ranking. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Articles or a Certificate of Vote of Directors Establishing a Class of Stock relating to any other series of preferred stock of the Corporation, the Series E Preferred Stock shall rank junior to every other series of the Corporation’s preferred stock previously or hereafter authorized, as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up and shall rank senior to the common stock.

     Section 10. Fractional Shares. Series E Preferred Stock may be issued in whole shares or in any fraction of a share that is one ten-thousandth (1/10,000th) of a share or any integral multiple of such fraction, which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series E Preferred Stock. In lieu of fractional shares, the Corporation may elect to make a cash payment as provided in the Rights Agreement for fractions of a share other than one ten-thousandth (1/10,000th) of a share or any integral multiple thereof.

     Section 11. Amendment. The foregoing Sections 1 through 10, inclusive, and this Section 11 may only be amended in accordance with Section 10.04 of Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws (or any successor provision).

Signed by: /s/ Richard A. Morin                                                                                                                                        ,
                                               (signature of authorized individual)

	o		Chairman of the board of directors,
	o		President,
	þ		Other officer,
	o		Court-appointed fiduciary,

on this 5th day of December, 2008.

		COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
		William Francis Galvin
		Secretary of the Commonwealth
		One Ashburton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02108-1512
		Articles of Amendment
		(General Laws Chapter 156D, Section 10.06; 950 CMR 113.34)
		I hereby certify that upon examination of these articles of amendment, it appears that the provisions of the General Laws relative thereto have been complied with, and the filing fee in the amount of $______ having been paid, said articles are deemed to have been filed with me this ______ day of ______, 20___, at _________ a.m./p.m.
		time
		Effective date:
		(must be within 90 days of date submitted)
		WILLIAM FRANCIS GALVIN
		Secretary of the Commonwealth
		Filing fee: Minimum filing fee $100 per article amended, stock increases $100 per 100,000 shares, plus $100 for each additional 100,000 shares or any fraction thereof.
Examiner
Name approval		TO BE FILLED IN BY CORPORATION Contact Information:
C		Joshua Gallitano, Esq.
M		c/o Goodwin Procter LLP
		Exchange Place, Boston, MA 02109
		Telephone: (617) 570-1000
		Email:
		Upon filing, a copy of this filing will be available at www.sec.state.ma.us/cor. If the document is rejected, a copy of the rejection sheet and rejected document will be available in the rejected queue.